Let's Make A Deal

Have you ever watched “Let’s Make A Deal” and witnessed the apprehension and anxiety involved as the contestants select their “prize?” The reason for the dilemma? The participants know that the wrong choice lands them with a ridiculous gag gift rather than a fabulous prize. It is important to select well, but there is absolutely no way of knowing how to do that. And the crowd cheers wildly, as if they know the best choice.

This time of year brings a plethora of Facebook photos of kids on their first day of school with comments from parents about how quickly their little one has grown up. In the blink of an eye they are teenagers, standing on the stage of life, trying to choose their “prize” while listening to a host of voices telling them what to choose. Except in this game the stakes are high and their decisions can change the course of their lives. But there is good news… in this game there is a handbook that gives the information they need to select wisely.

As parents and people of influence in the lives of our children, we must come to the place where we stop hoping for the best as our kids grow into adulthood and start putting every effort into showing them the source of all wisdom. Taking them to church is good. Buying them a Bible is good. Teaching good moral values is good. Teaching them to be respectful and responsible… good. But someday they will be onstage and there will be voices shouting from the audience and trying to convince them to choose what is behind the “wrong” curtain. We have to give them a foundation of truth to stand on. That Truth is found in one place. The Word of God.

How do you make God’s Word an integral part of their life? You can start by making it an integral part of your life. Get into the Word. Discover the truth and the grace that is woven throughout the pages. Eventually it will begin to live within you and you will find yourself speaking the truth that you are learning. It will begin to direct your conversations, your decisions, your attitudes. You will begin to understand what once seemed foreign. You will begin to seek answers to the things that you don’t understand. You will be shaped by what you find in the pages of scripture and it will be apparent to your children that there is something transformative about the Word of God.

When the world is screaming all kinds of options at your kids, I pray that you will have demonstrated for them where to go to find the wisdom they need to make the right decisions. I have never met anyone who found the discipline of Bible Study easy or fun in the beginning. But I have met plenty who wish they would have started sooner because they now see the extreme value in hiding God’s Word in their heart.

Let’s make a deal… pick up your Bible every day and begin reading Matthew. As you read, write down questions and observations. When you finish the book of Matthew, go to Mark, then Luke and John. If you miss a day, don’t beat yourself up, just get back at it. When you finish the Gospels… those first four books of the New Testament, let me know. There will be a prize…for real! It may take some of you a few weeks and others a few months. Maybe longer. Just do it! Your kids need to see you treating God’s Word like it matters to you if you expect it to ever matter to them. 

Being the CHURCH at Home

08192015 Bringing it home

Imagine spending three years following Jesus and then being charged with the task of keeping the good work going, guiding people to be followers of Jesus in his absence. Throw in all the different personalities and cultural backgrounds and family history and you have the recipe for a disaster! And there you have a fairly accurate picture of the first century church. A lot of rules, a lot of bosses, a lot of reason to avoid becoming a part of  “the Way.”

I love how they came to their senses, and listened to the Holy Spirit whispering to their spirit (Acts 15:28). His message was no different than that of their Lord. With all the differing opinions of how to be the church, the followers, the leaders that Jesus wanted them to be, the focus needed to narrow to what was most important… basically… don’t be immoral and don’t be rude, offending others (Acts 15:29).  That aligns directly with what Jesus said was most important… love God; love each other. 

Now, let’s bring that home. If you were to compare the environment in your home to the instructed atmosphere prescribed for the early church, would your family fit that model? What do your children learn from you about not offending or being rude?

Do you work hard to explain with love rather than lose your cool and yell?

Do you expect your children to know things and model behaviors that you have possibly failed to teach them?

Do you lead them with patience so they feel valued?

Do you explain the correct way to say something so that it isn’t rude or just tell them they are being rude?

Do you allow unkind words and actions or are there consequences for them?

Do you use unkind words or actions at home?

How about the immorality issue? Do you even think about comparing what you claim as right and wrong with morality as defined in scripture? Maybe you don’t know what the Bible has to say about moral values. Maybe it is time to read and learn. I believe that 2 Timothy 3:16-17 is true; that

“God has breathed life into all of scripture.

It is useful for teaching us what is true.

It is useful for correcting our mistakes,

It is useful for making our lives whole again.

It is useful for training us to do what is right.

By using Scripture, a man of God can be

completely prepared to do every good thing.”

If we allow society to be the moral compass that directs us in raising our children and making decisions for our families, we have chosen the wrong source of information disguised as “truth.” If you think the Bible is outdated and you can choose your values without it, you may well be in the majority, however, you will discover at some point that the Truth of God’s Word is a most precious gift. It is a lamp to our feet and a light for our path and without it there will be much wandering in the wilderness looking for what is good and right and healthy for our families.

Maybe we need to work harder at learning to follow God's morality and start being kind and considerate to others so that our kids will learn the prescription given by God's Spirit, for those who would lead others to the heart of God. Are you on-board? You will never regret it!

A Healthy Heart

Last week was a sweet, precious, relaxing time with my husband. Every day we found time to just “be.” We sat by the lake and enjoyed the sun reflecting off the water and witnessed the rare sighting of a bald eagle swooping down to secure his afternoon snack. We experienced a continual peace that comes from knowing that your life and your future is literally in the hands of a good and faithful God, who apparently has a plan.

The week prior, a heart catheterization revealed that my husband, Dana, had 90%  blockage in one major artery and 100% in the other two, yet he never suffered a heart attack and passed his stress test with flying colors. Doctors and nurses alike told us that he should not be alive with that kind of blockage. Their only explanation, “God isn’t finished with you yet.” They sent him home to rest and prepare for a quadruple bypass the following week. So we went home filled with gratitude to God for sparing his life. And we rested quietly, praising God for his mercy, and thoroughly enjoying our time together.

I suppose knowing God had spared his life on multiple occasions helped us to feel at ease about the upcoming surgery. The prayers of many wonderful, caring people held us up as we waited and even the day of surgery, there was an inexplicable peace, but as I waited with family and friends, I felt an extreme need to find a quiet place to sit in awe at the feet of the One who was truly in charge of the way our day would end.

During this time of meditation, I envisioned the heart of my husband in the hands of the surgeon and the surgeon in the hands of my Savior. Medical science is a wonderful thing, but without God’s decision to spare Dana’s life, none of that mattered. What’s more, the skill of the surgeon to “re-plumb” and save Dana’s heart…a miracle beyond my comprehension… so that we could have more time together this side of eternity was insignificant compared the importance of the Great Physician, who has the ability to “re-shape” our hearts in preparation for life with Him here now AND throughout eternity.

I also pondered how our hearts often seem healthy on the outside because we are “passing the tests” just like Dana did at the cardiologist office. We can do a lot of things right and feel we are passing the test for heaven, but a godly heart isn’t a heart that is always doing things right. It is a heart through which the Spirit of God can freely flow. When Dana allowed the cardiologist to look inside of his heart, the blockages were discovered that could have taken his life on multiple occasions. We must become vulnerable enough to allow God to examine us deeply and see what might be stopping the flow of God’s Spirit and threatening our spiritual life. By allowing Him to re-plumb our heart so that the Holy Spirit has the freedom to guard, protect and guide us, we will never need to fear, because we will walk into eternity with Him when He calls us home.

I am sure that, 5 days post op, Dana would tell you that a heart renovation is no walk in the park. Many adjustments to normal life must be made. You don’t just hop up and start where you left off, but you rest and listen and obey the instructions you are given. From the beginning, consent forms were being signed, one after another, stating that you understand the changes that are coming. But these changes mean LIFE. No changes are made without your consent. The Great Physician waits for your permission to enter your heart and your life. Are you ready to open your heart to be re-shaped to house the Spirit of God? Are you ready to allow him free flow through your thoughts and attitudes and pass-times and expenditures? If you are, you can expect LIFE to be abundant and free, without the fear of death. New life will emerge and you will not regret it!

“Look! I am knocking at the door.

If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in

And we will enjoy a meal together as friends.”

Revelation 3:20

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.

My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

John 10:10

The Good Shepherd

Summer camp was amazing! The kids were active and attentive, loud and listening, giggling and growing, energetic and exhausted… everything you could want to see in a healthy child. What a blessing it was to have some concentrated time with them. Precious memories!

Our theme was the Australian Walkabout… journeying toward the path of the Good Shepherd and we learned from Psalm 23. Six simple verses that can change the trajectory of your life.

“The Lord is my shepherd. He gives me everything I need…”  He doesn’t withhold the good things because if I am truly following, he will lead me to a place where I can rest and feast on what will sustain my life…. “He lets me rest in fields of green grass.” And He doesn’t lead me toward the danger of over-extending myself…  of temptation… of confusion. If I am walking toward these things, I have obviously taken a detour from his path,  because… “He leads me beside QUIET waters.”

“He gives me new strength…” Not to DO more, but to BE more… and that can only happen if … “He guides me in the right paths for the honor of his name…” So we must say “NO!” to temptation to do or say anything that will bring shame to the word Christian because if we don’t reflect His goodness and love, how can we hope to cause the world to long for a relationship with Him?

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley,” and that valley looks different to each one of us… “I will not be afraid.” Because I know that … “You are with me. Your shepherd’s rod and staff comfort me.” I must not wander toward the enemy of my soul. You will fight for me and rescue me because you created me to be with you forever. I need to understand that your “NO” is for my good, as is your “YES” because You see the blessings and the dangers lurking on the path ahead of me and it doesn’t scare you a bit because you know that I will be safe as long as I allow you to be in control. Then, in spite of the way the situation looks to me, I am safe with you as… “You prepare a feast for me right in front of my enemies. You pour oil on my head….” Like a miraculous bug spray that actually keeps those nasty camp mosquitos at bay, you protect me from pesky thoughts that cause my words and attitudes to swell, distract and irritate. I know that my life is blessed and I have so much more than I need because, if I will only look I can see that… “My cup runs over. I am sure that your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life. And I will live in the house of the Lord forever...”  Just as you planned from the day you envisioned who I would become so that I could fulfill the plan that You made for me.

Keeping those lessons alive in my heart as I proceed through a valley that I had not anticipated. I came home from camp to discover that my husband of 39 years is in need of quadruple bypass surgery. Maybe the lessons I prepared for the kids at camp was really for me, because my heart is at peace, knowing that the Good Shepherd is in control and is guiding our lives down the right path to bring honor to His name. It’s not about me. It’s not about Dana. It’s about Jesus, and may He be honored in all that happens in the valley and on the other side of it.

Kingdom Seeds

Have you ever really thought about the fact that we are called to build a Kingdom?

When I was a little girl I built my own little kingdom in my bedroom closet. I had everything I needed to sustain life for myself and my baby doll, Kitten. I decided who could come and go and allowed my sister to come in frequently and my brother… NEVER!

In my teen years I created my own little art studio in a tiny little attic room and that was my Creativity Kingdom. I was the sole inhabitant of that Creativity Kingdom (largely because I couldn’t fit another person in the room) and was completely in charge of all that was created there.

When I moved out of my parent’s house and got married, we built a home where my husband and I could raise our family in our own Brady Kingdom. We basically made the rules, created the economy and decided how our kingdom would look and the way it would be run.

At this stage in my life, I am much more focused on another Kingdom. The Kingdom of God that can only be seen by the fruit it produces. Sometimes we get confused about what builds God’s Kingdom and we begin to jump through the proper hoops, stop certain behaviors and begin new habits. But these are not the things that build God’s Kingdom. Conversely, they are the result of the Kingdom of God growing within our hearts.  God plants the seed of faith in the depths of our soul when we open our heart to His leadership and it grows by his mercy and grace as He reconciles us to Himself by strengthening and molds us into the person He designed us to be.

Jesus compares the Kingdom of God to a mustard seed in Mark 4:30-32. A tiny seed, yet within it there is the power to become a plant that is large enough for birds to find a nesting place in its shade. In fact, all seeds carry within themselves the ability to become a plant or tree that will grow and produce, given the proper nurturing environment.  Knowing that to be true, when we think of Jesus illustration, what is the condition of the seed of faith that was planted in you when you first said “Yes” to following Jesus?  Is God growing it into something that produces fruit or is it being crowded out by things that keep it from growing? Does your life reflect that God is growing in you? Do your words and actions and choices of how to spend your time, energy and money indicate that God is growing YOU to be the person He created you to be? Or does your heart harbor the things of an earthly kingdom that are not allowing God’s Kingdom space to grow?

Parents, can I share a word of caution with you? If you want your kids to become the God followers that will have a secure place in God’s Kingdom in heaven, then help them to see His Kingdom here… in your heart. Help them to understand the parable of the mustard seed. Guide them to an understanding that inheriting heaven means allowing God to grow and produce godly fruit in their lives now. Children should learn from an early age that God’s seed cannot grow in a heart crowded with sin and selfishness. Lovingly guide, just as Jesus did with his followers. Point out the sin that is holding them back, but with patience, understanding that we all struggle to make the right choices… even parents.

We won’t always get it right, but every day is a new opportunity to make the right choice, nurturing the seed of faith in our hearts and theirs, by exposing it to godliness and eliminating the wickedness that will keep growth from happening.

May God’s Kingdom grow strong within your heart.

Parenting in a Biblical Void

According to C. S. Lewis, every moral rule is created to prevent a breakdown of the human machine. God’s laws are provided as a gift to us so that we can function as we were created to function. It is the manual for the operation of our daily lives. That moral rule of which he speaks is found in God’s Word, the Bible.  Many would say that it is obsolete or a book for the weak who can’t figure life out on their own, but I would contest that as I look at the culture that is drifting from the foundational truth we find in scripture. I see a place where humanity fills the void in their lives with drugs, alcohol, promiscuity and an unquenchable desire to acquire more and more of the things of this world, yet they are overcome with emptiness. I see a place where God’s most prized creation is bought and sold like a piece of furniture. I see a culture where children are not valued enough to be trained to travel the path God has laid out for them so that His plan might be fulfilled. I see a culture full of people who refuse to be held accountable for their actions and legislation being born continually because of our neglect, irresponsibility and blindness to the laws of God. One has to wonder how many laws have been written because of our refusal to “Love our neighbor as ourselves.”

As parents, we have a huge responsibility when it comes to our culture. As we train our children, we are shaping the next generation. I often hear parents complain that they feel powerless. They can’t discipline their children in public for fear of being arrested. Really? Condoning bad behavior is right and correcting it is wrong? In what world is that alright? They can’t control their child’s schedule because of the mandate from the coach. Really? Check their birth certificate. Is the coaches name there or was that child a gift from God to you? They can’t provide proper nutrition or rest or have any time as a family because they are constantly on the road going from this game to that lesson to this appointment. Really? Who hijacked your calendar and created that schedule?

We DO have a choice, but we will eventually lose that choice if we sit back and allow society to dictate what our values and beliefs should be. It is well past time for us to take back our homes, establish our values based on the Word of God and teach those values to our children.

Do you know what God’s word says about morality? Do you know what it says about love and respect and responsibility? Do you know how to shape the heart of your child so that they will find room for God as they grow into the age of accountability? You will learn these things in the Word of God and in association with others who are learning and striving to be godly parents.

Teaching your child to be “good” is nice, but what will happen with the cultural shifts that redefine for us the meaning of “good?”  There is ONE TRUTH and that is the foundation of all that I believe. That Truth is found in the Bible. It is God’s message of love to us so that the machinery of humanity can run smoothly, without a glitch. I don’t know about you, but I am not willing for any society to dictate to me how my child should grow or behave or find their way. I believe God’s word to be the only way to establish a worthwhile pattern for life that guides us to an eternity with Him. If you will take the time to dive into scripture you will find wisdom and knowledge that will equip you to be the leader in your home and community that God is calling you to be. And that, my friend, is the Truth!

Regulations

This week as I was spending time in the Psalms I could not help but notice how frequently the psalmist praises God for his “law,” his “regulations,” his “statutes,” his “commands,” his “decrees.”  Prior to now, my mind has always gone to the 10 commandments when I read such things. Although they are a valuable guide to live by, it just seems like meditating on them and writing songs about them and praising God for them continually is not something that would fill my heart on a regular basis.

This morning I read Psalm 119:62-64

“I rise at midnight to thank you for your just regulations.

I am a friend to anyone who fears you -

Anyone who obeys your commandments.

O Lord, your unfailing love fills the earth; teach me your decrees.”

I often rise at midnight… and 2 a.m. … and 4 a.m…. and seldom is my mind filled with praise for God’s just regulations. It is more like a feeling that He slipped up when he made my body and this shouldn’t be happening!

Then it hit me. Everything God made is systematic, orderly, and right. He made all things with an ebb and flow; darkness and light; work time and rest time; laughter and tears; young and old; strength and weakness.  All for a purpose. All according to His perfect timing. The rotation of the Earth – it’s orbit around the sun. The changing seasons. The growth and development of all He created. Everything has a system of orderliness.

In our lives we spend much time trying to keep our head above water, frantically paddling our way upstream trying to survive. Do we take the time to realize what is truly happening around us? How the Lord is working? When I look at my days… weeks… maybe even months I often see more frantic frenzy than I do systematic order. And that isn’t a good thing.

I believe God created us for order. Our bodies function in a particular order by his design. We have no right to sabotage God’s plan and purpose by filling our world with the unneeded so that there is no space for the valuable order that was intended.

I often think that our kids are being reshaped by all the activities we condone in their lives. They no longer grasp the concept of stillness; quietness; order. They see our frantic pace and it becomes their normal. Rushing from one activity to the next is the American way. Being still and experiencing what God has for us has become abnormal and we strive hard to find the time and space for it when we feel God tugging on our heart and proclaiming His agony over our separation from Him.

My life needs more order. I need to stop running to the “fire” to douse the flames and start doing more things systematically so that the “fires” don’t keep springing up all around me. I need a schedule that is the norm and I need to say NO to the things that keep me from the “regulations” I was created to observe by the One who loves me and pines for me to slow down and listen and enjoy His presence.

Parenting has a great deal of “fires” that tend to disrupt our plans. That is somewhat the natural rhythm of parenting. But don’t create more by allowing what is unnecessary to overtake the systematic plan of your Creator. Listen to His rhythm and rest in His arms as He whispers to you of His perfect plan for your day. Allow Him time to speak while you wait with Him, observing His beautiful and perfect order for your life.

Hearing The Heart

When a child’s heart is broken over something that to you seems insignificant, does that make their pain truly insignificant? So many times all we see is the mess in their room that is keeping them from finding their favorite toy and we totally miss the heartbreak they are feeling over a presumed loss. Is it possible that their room is a mess because we have dropped the ball and not taught them to put something away before getting something else out? Maybe we just haven’t taken the time to work alongside them. A lack of consistency with our expectations may be the reason for the mess. At any rate, now they are crying and we are angry and there is a lost opportunity to show compassion.

Sunday the pastor said the proper way to grieve with a friend is to have a big heart with ears. What if we were to do that when a child is sad or disappointed? Perhaps, if we would listen with our heart we would hear more than whining. Maybe we would get to the bottom of their sorrow and be able to aid in their healing.

Most people struggle to see God for who He is. It is a concept that is above our comprehension. Because of that we often see Him through the childhood experience we have with our parents. Based on the way you listen to your children when they are broken-hearted, will they someday see God as compassionate? Hearing their prayers? Too busy for their problems?  When you tell them to “get over it” or “figure it out” are you painting the accurate picture of a heavenly Father who wants to walk with them in their hour of need and guide them through the difficult stretches of their journey?

I’m not suggesting that you coddle the kids through life and never allow them to learn to overcome adversity or be strong in tough situations. God doesn’t do that with us. I love the statement credited to Toby Mac: “Sometimes God doesn’t change our circumstances because he is trying to change our heart.”  We can’t run in and fix the problems our kids face, but we can walk with them through the storm, listening, loving, and crying with them as they learn to maneuver their way to maturity.

How about a little less lecturing and a little more listening this week? It could transform your relationship with your kids and change the atmosphere in your home. 

Compassionate Listening

Parents are probably on the go more now than in the history of humanity. Rushing around on a regular basis really interferes with listening with your ears and your eyes. When that is impeded, you fail to truly know all that you need to know about your developing child. It is important to slow down and allow time for important things, like just sitting and listening to your child. Remember, they are new at the things you have been doing for years. They haven’t had all the experiences you have had to help you negotiate the struggles of life. They lack the triumphs that will help them conquer their fears. They don’t always know how to express their sorrows.

Often we just brush aside the things that seem like the end of the world to a child. Have you ever caught yourself thinking or maybe even saying, “They think this is rough, what will they do when they have real struggles?” “If you don’t develop a thicker skin you are going to be crying all the time.” “You know that kids are going to make fun of you if you cry over every little thing.”  When your child is hurting, you have a golden opportunity to show your love and concern. They need to know that you are there for them and that you will take them seriously. All too soon they will be teenagers and if you don’t learn to listen intently and care genuinely about what they are saying and feeling as children, don’t expect them to confide in you as adolescents.

It is no easy task to sort out what is authentic sorrow and what is simply a pity party for a child. You, their parent know them best. You must listen and determine whether they need to feel sad over a loss or whether they are simply willing themselves to shed tears simply to get your attention or affection. If the latter is true, maybe they are asking you to listen and embrace their needs. If the stories become exaggerated and unbelievable, either they have a great imagination or maybe they are just begging you to listen to them.

How is your level of compassion when your child is hurting? Do they know that you care? Are you willing to listen to their story? Can you remember when you were their age… how disappointment felt to you? God made us to feel. That is reality. Help your kids to know that you want to hear how they feel and walk with them through the sadness, fears and struggles. Rejoice with them in their jubilant times. In showing them you care you are opening their hearts to know a God who cares about them and will listen and comfort them in the valleys of life.

“The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Psalm 34:18

Jesus Loves Me

I remember it well. My 3 year old foster daughter was sitting on my lap at the dining room table and she looked up at the Maxine Pendry painting of Jesus that hung on the wall. She had been with us for about a month and prior to that had likely never seen a likeness of Jesus nor heard that he was the Son of God. To her, "Jesus" was simply a word that your Mother screams when you irritate her. But she had been hearing the songs about Him and the stories that we would read at bedtime and as she stared at the picture she finally said, “Who is that?” and I answered that it is a picture of Jesus. I remember the look on the face of this precious little girl that had been through things that you never ever want to hear, as she confidently said, “He loves me.” No question. Just assurance. “He loves me.”

So many times when the chips are down we have a little pity party and assume that God has turned his back on us or is somehow punishing us by allowing us to encounter the tough times. Why can’t we be more like little Amber (not her real name) and know that we are loved, regardless of the circumstances that come our way?  Why is it that we automatically assume that the God who alone is GOOD is responsible for what we consider BAD? 

The way you react and respond to the tough things in life will NOT go unnoticed by your kids. As grown-ups we need to understand that we live in a broken, fallen world that was not a part of God’s plan but the result of Satan and his influence on humankind. We need to have locked in as our default response to sickness, sin, evil, disputes, quarrels, death, disease….  that none of those things were created by God. He created us to live in paradise… The Garden of Eden was made by Him for us. So why would we believe for one minute that bad things are happening to us because God has forgotten, betrayed, or stopped loving us?

Are you getting that? Do you understand that God is a good and faithful God who never wanted us to live in a fallen world? You need to have that locked in so that as your kids encounter the difficult experiences you are ready to tell them that God is with them and will see them through it, one way or another. When tough times come, let them hear you thanking God for being with you in the storm. Don’t live in a pity party when life is rough. Live in the hope that comes from knowing a good and beautiful God. Teach them that He is faithful, because bad things will come their way and they need to know beforehand that His love will enfold them in the storm.

I have been deprived of peace; I have forgotten what prosperity is.

So I say, "My splendor is gone and all that I had hoped from the LORD."

I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall.

I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me.

Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:

Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.

 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."

 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;

it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

Spending Yourself

Sunday the Pastor talked about the great joy we can find serving the least of these. There are people all around us with needs and when we are able to reach out in some small way to meet those needs it is a beautiful thing. Sometimes the need is monetary. Sometimes it is for some sort of physical assistance. A listening ear. A word of wisdom. Or maybe just a smile that says “I love you and accept you for who you are.”

I love to serve people. Really. I guess it’s one of the quirky things about me. I found out at a young age how much fun it could be. I would play waitress when my parents had friends over. I would gather all the little children around me so their parents could have a break. I would rake the leaves, iron the pillow cases (Yes, people actually did that) and dust every little trinket my mother collected and I really enjoyed it.

So, I kind of felt like I had a handle on the serving gig. But, lately life has taken my role as servant to a whole new level. A level that is beyond me having fun doing what I love to do. It has taken my heart deep into the lives of those who have tremendous pain and loss and allowed me to place myself, figuratively, in their shoes.

As I care for my dear aunt, who at 90 is trying to heal from a broken hip that she doesn’t always remember is broken due to her Alzheimer’s, I am invited to experience the pain of losing one’s independence. As I provide support to my father in what is likely to be his last months on earth, I experience the pain of separation that is sure to be more than I care to experience. When I listen to my daughter I experience the agony and rejection of divorce and my heart aches for her. I feel the loneliness of my single sister and the agony of a grandson whose autism often leaves him feeling frustrated and defeated. I find myself continually surrounded by people who need a smile, a hand, a listening ear. I could cry out to God for relief from this pain that overwhelms me... and sometimes I do just that. My life seems to have evolved into areas of service way above my level of ability. I am experiencing the pain of others as if it were my own. Why would anyone want that?
As I ponder that question, I am beginning to figure out that it is an excellent part of my journey. I am learning that when your heart breaks for others, it opens a place for the love of God to bless you with an indescribable joy, knowing that your life has touched the heart in need. And I still love what I am doing. My heart will forever be filled with rich memories of sharing the love of Jesus with others and the impact that has made upon their lives and mine.

As I serve those I love, my heart is full to the brim with more love than I ever knew one could feel, even for strangers. I have learned that with great love there is great pain, however, most days as I wipe tears (or worse), my heart is more full than I ever knew possible. If you are feeling like there is a void in your life, look around. There are others in need who you have the power to bless. If reaching out to them is outside of your skill level, Great! Then you will need the One who has called you to serve the least of these, to help you fulfill the mission He may have created just for you. Now what could be better than that?
It is entirely my choice how my story will read for those who look back on my journey. With God's help, it will be a journey filled with loving and serving the least of these.

…If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry

and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,

then your light will rise in the darkness,

and your night will become like the noonday.

The LORD will guide you always;

he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land

and will strengthen your frame. 

Isaiah 58:11-12

Singing in the Rain

What happens in your mind when everything in life feels like it is crushing in on you and there is no Calgon available to whisk you away to where life is stress free, flowers are blooming, birds are singing and a cool breeze blows across your smiling face? I'm guessing your first thought isn't about how much you are loved by God. More than likely it's more like wondering why He has abandoned you in your time of need. Unfortunately, these thoughts are the default setting for many of us and they lead us down a short path to self-pity which is not even in the same hemisphere with reality.

Like King David reflects, in Psalm 13, we can easily find ourselves feeling rejected in the tough times. However, if you read to the end of his lament you find him zeroing in on the reality of God's undying love for him. Because David learned to live his life on a foundation of what is true, he was able to sing praise to God. The truth that sustained him was that God's love is enough ... no matter my circumstances.

At the risk of dating myself, it makes me think of a Gene Kelly song...

"I'm singing in the rain
Just singing in the rain
What a glorious feelin'
I'm happy again
I'm laughing at clouds
So dark up above
The sun's (Son's) in my heart
And I'm ready for love..."

It is a glorious feeling to be able to sing in the rain. Do you have any idea how much your ability to sing God's praise impacts the atmosphere in your home; how much influence your reaction to adversity has on your children? But being able to sing in the rain isn't just an ability to have a positive outlook. It is a foundational belief that God is good and that His plan for me is right, and I can trust Him and sing His praise even when life makes no sense at all.

Imagine the atmosphere your kids can grow up in, listening as you play songs of praise, singing along with a thankful heart even when life is hard. Imagine the trust they could develop in an unseen God because they hear you praising Him in the storm. Imagine them knowing that the storms in life are not something to fear but something to cherish because they draw us closer to the One who is shaping our hearts.

Tune your stereo to a station that plays music by Christian artists and learn the songs. They will come to you when you need them. Buy CDs for your kids that teach them songs they can sing to praise God for who He is. Music is a powerful tool that connects our heart to God. Use it!

"I will trust in your unfailing love.
I will rejoice because You have rescued me.
I will sing to the Lord because He is good to me."